'Seriously fun fitness': Massive, new gym to bulk up Ipswich

"It's a purpose built club and it will be a total of 1800sqm which is massive."

IN PLANNING: Proposed World Gym Bundamba manager Darcy Edwards inbusiness with his dad Dominic. Picture: Inga Williams

A NEW gym planned to bulk up Ipswich's fitness regime is part of an international cult following of fitness fanatics.

The 1800sqm World Gym planned for Bundamba in the coming months is one of hundreds across the globe but the first of its kind in an almost 100km radius of Ipswich.

World Gym burst into the Australian fitness market in 2008 and has since become known for "seriously fun fitness".

Development applications before Ipswich City Council reveal plans to build the gym across the road from the derelict old Masters building on Hoepner Rd.

While there is no confirmation as to future plans for the warehouse, World Gym is a sign of business movement in the industrial area.

Dominic Edwards and his son Darcy are the force behind the gym and have plans to build a facility to make the most of the World Gym "buzz" in Ipswich and at the same time, create plenty of fitness jobs.

"It will offer something for everybody so we'll have the traditional hammer strength heavy weights section, we'll also have the CalAesthetics and group training sessions and a comfort zone for women to do weights," Mr Edwards said.

"It's a purpose built club and it will be a total of 1800sqm which is massive.

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"We'll have a very big 200sqm cardio deck overlooking the gym and I think because of its size, if anybody has been to a World Gym it's quite an awesome experience to walk in.

"It enables us to react to any trend and we can provide whatever the public is after or the community needs at the time."

The Edwards family is no stranger to fitness and business, with a deep history in the industries but they are joining forces to bring World Gym to Ipswich.

"My first experience with the buzz it creates was when World Gym came to south side and I'd never been to one before and I could not get over the buzz it created in the community," Mr Edwards said.

"When I went there, there was such a wow factor, they're big in every sense and offer something for everyone. A lot of people think World Gym and they think muscle and heavy weights section but I think now-a-days World Gym are made up of more than 50% women so the buzz in the community is male and female and made up of all different age groups. There are heaps of different styles of fitness.

"My son said Ipswich needs a World Gym and I knew exactly what he was talking about. Ipswich is perfect for a World Gym.

"Ipswich is so well known for its sporting community and how many champions its produced so not to have a state-of-the-art facility like a World Gym it was just screaming out. As soon as he said it, I knew he was spot on and I didn't hesitate.

"Ipswich and World Gym is just a match made in heaven. They don't have massive numbers, it's always comfortable and everyone can get on a piece of machinery.

New World Gym manager Darcy Edwards. Picture: Inga Williams

"The reason I entertained a gym is Darcy has a real passion for fitness and if it wasn't for Darcy being involved I probably wouldn't be because every business has to be driven by passion and that's definitely what he has for the fitness industry. He trains seven days a week twice a day."

There are plans for the gym to open between December and March pending the development application.

Mr Edwards said, once the gym opened, there would be plenty of jobs on offer.

"There will be a lot of opportunities, we'll be looking for a lot of personal trainers as well as counter staff and group fitness training. I would envisage 10 to 20 jobs for the local community," he said.

"We also want to partner with the local sporting teams as well so that would be Darcy's first job to go and meet all the teams and see what we can do for them in terms of what we could provide specifically for their needs."

About World Gym International

The iconic World Gym brand was founded in 1976 by Joe Gold during the glory days of "Muscle Beach" in Santa Monica, CA when serious fitness collided with the world of Hollywood celebrities.

Since then, World Gym has evolved into an internationally recognised brand that has captured the imagination of fitness enthusiasts around the globe.

With its headquarters located in southern California, World Gym currently has over 200 franchised locations in 19 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Cayman Islands, Germany, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States.

To learn more about World Gym and franchise opportunities with this storied brand, visit worldgym.com.